FDA Issues Warning on Slimming Beauty Dietary Supplements

The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) just issued a warning on a potentially harmful stimulant found in Slimming Beauty capsules, which are labeled as â€œall naturalâ€ products. The product contains the controlled substance sibutramine

The FDA is advising consumers who have Slimming Beauty Bitter Orange Slimming Capsules not to use the product and warns that Slimming Beauty Bitter Orange Slimming Capsules contain the active pharmaceutical ingredient sibutramine, a prescription-only drug, which is a stimulant. Sibutramine is not listed on the product label and could harm consumers, especially those with cardiovascular conditions.

FDA lab tests reveal that the product contains excessive amounts of sibutramine that may be dangerous to people who have a history of cardiovascular disease, because it can lead to elevated blood pressure, stroke, and heart attack.

Consumers who are otherwise healthy and who take the amount of sibutramine found in Slimming Beauty capsules can experience anxiety, nausea, heart palpitations, a racing heart, insomnia, and elevated blood pressure. Sibutramine also may interact with other medications and can cause serious side effects. Sibutramine is a powerful stimulant that should not be used without a prescription due to the safety risks associated with it.

Slimming Beauty is being sold over the Internet by Beautiful Health Inc., formerly LL Health and Beauty. Slimming Beauty sample packets have also been distributed by individuals at community events. The product and the sample packets are falsely labeled as â€œ100% Herbal.â€ Also, the sample packet label is misleading because it indicates that it is a natural vitamin and calcium capsule for use in children as young as two years old.

The FDA has determined that Slimming Beauty sample packets were distributed at the 40th Annual Mexican Independence Day Parade in Chicago, on September 12, 2010. The agency is aware of several reports of serious side effects from the use of this product including elevated blood pressure, headaches, vomiting, and insomnia.

Consumers and health care professionals are encouraged to report adverse events related to the use of Slimming Beauty capsules to the FDA’s MedWatch Safety Information and Adverse Event Reporting Program at www.fda.gov/MedWatch/report.htm or by phone at 800-FDA-1088 (800-332-1088).

Sample packets contain four capsules in a small, clear, plastic bag stapled to Slimming Beauty advertising material that is written in Spanish.